We can still learn a great deal from this remarkable story. The courteous manner in which Eliezer requested a drink is very instructive: “Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.” He was not bold and demanding, for if we expect to find a friend with real Christian characteristics, we must act in a thoughtful and considerate way ourselves. So here, Eliezer soon found a ready willingness on the part of Rebekah; and he knew that she was the one the Lord had chosen for Isaac. She drew water for all his camels, and this was not a small task, for Eliezer had ten camels!
Well might he wonder, and yet our God is a God of wonders! One “who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). It wasn’t long until Rebekah was rewarded for her kindness, and surely Eliezer was rewarded for waiting on the Lord. His promise is ever the same, “Them that honor Me I will honor” (1 Samuel 2:30), but we cannot expect to be honored, if we do not honor the Lord first. “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:6).
Confessing His Name
Before Eliezer did one thing more, he asked Rebekah a most important question. He said, “whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee.” Too many young Christians leave this important question until later on, and sometimes, sad to say, they never ask it. They want “just a little friendship” and can go on for a long time having a so-called good time without saying, “Whose daughter art thou?” or in other words, “Are you a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus?” It was foremost, however, in the mind of Eliezer, and Rebekah readily replied that she was the daughter of Bethuel. Yes, she gladly admitted that she was one of Eliezer’s master’s brethren. It wasn’t a half-hearted, indefinite confession, like so many in our day, causing us to wonder if they are really the Lord’s. One who really belongs to the Lord can confess His Name clearly and definitely and is glad to do so.
Piety at Home
Another lovely thing about Rebekah is the way she speaks of the hospitality of her parents’ home, though not inviting Eliezer herself. She was learning these things in the happy circle of her own family. Yes, there was room for the man and his camels, and soon her brother came out and invited him in. Everything was so beautifully proper in its place, and this was more evidence that it was not just an empty thing with Rebekah. Any boy or girl can be nice when they are out, but it is the home life that tells, and Eliezer was going to see her actions at home. “Let them learn first to show piety (godliness) at home” (1 Timothy 5:4), is a good word for us all.
Eliezer had learned to take everything from the Lord, and to thank Him for His blessings, and he bowed his head right at the well and worshipped. Then he began to talk about the Lord too. There is not much danger of getting into bad company when we talk about the Lord, and it is a fine thing to make this the subject of our conversation. Eliezer was making decisions in his heart, and Rebekah in hers, but there was ample evidence on both sides of an ardent desire to do the will of the Lord.
Further Meditation
1. How did Eliezer know that Rebekah was the one the Lord had chosen for Isaac?
2. A bold confession of Christ early in our Christian life can keep us from many troubles later on. What happened to Peter when he tried to enter the high priest’s palace the night before the Lord was crucified?
3. It sometimes requires a lot of courage to stand up for the Lord when others are opposed to Him. You can find many examples of courageous believers who were strengthened not to deny Him in Miller’s Church History by A. Miller.